What wood is good for firewood? Local botanical knowledge in firewood stores of La Plata district, Buenos Aires (Argentina).

Abstract

What wood is good for firewood? Local botanical knowledge in firewood stores of La Plata district, Buenos Aires (Argentina). The present study was carried out in La Plata district, Buenos Aires province, Argentina. This is a diverse area displaying urban and periurban zones, which show abundant public areas planted with trees, spontaneous vegetation in periurban aereas, while in the surroundings of La Plata district there are riparian forests and bushes, Celtis ehrenbergiana forest (called talares), and implanted forest. In the framework of an investigation of urban ethnobotany, thirteen firewood sale sites (called leñeras) were registered and the sellers were interviewed with the objective of recording their botanical knowledge about the commercialized species, those considered more suitable, origin, way of obtaining, way of recognition and classification. A total of 32 ethnotaxa were commercialized as firewood, being the most frequently sold “quebracho colorado”, “itín”, and “eucalipto”. The main destination for firewood is for heating homes and secondly for cooking. The extensive knowledge that the interviewees have about the subject is highlighted, also the diversity of surveyed practices involved in the use of firewood, the supply strategies, and the high variety of species used.